The Basics
The Drake football team returns home to welcome Pioneer Football League foe, San Diego, to Drake Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 1 p.m.
 
Broadcast Information
The game will be streamed worldwide on ESPN3 with play-by-play provided by Emery Songer and analysis from Jeff Woody. 
 
1350/102.1 ESPN Des Moines is back as the radio home of Drake Bulldog football. Chuck Reed will once again be the play-by-play man and will be joined by analyst Craig Wederquist.
 
About Last Week
Drake gained valuable momentum in the final moments of the opening half at Dayton on Saturday (Oct. 1). On third and goal from the four-yard line, Dayton quarterback Dante Casciola was intercepted in the back of the end zone by Tony Graham II.
 
The Bulldogs took advantage of the turnover with a fast-paced 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive. Senior quarterback Ian Corwin got Drake on the board by lacing a 16-yard dart over the middle to Trey Radocha with only two seconds remaining before halftime.  
 
The Flyers controlled the second half to build a 27-7 lead by the middle of the fourth quarter.
 
Corwin led a march down the field starting with 3:40 left to play in regulation. A pass interference penalty aided the Bulldogs and Austin Flax took a hard hit to hold onto a 10-yard touchdown pass. Drake trailed 27-14 with 2:28 remaining as Dayton recovered the onside kick to clinch the contest.
 
Coach Stepsis' Postgame Thoughts at Dayton 
"I'm frustrated on a lot of levels," head coach Todd Stepsis said. "We're not as consistent in all three phases of the game that I know we can be. More importantly, I'm frustrated for our players. They work so hard and put everything into our program. We'll do a good job bouncing back and we'll look at ourselves in the mirror to figure out how each one of us (coaches and players) can improve."
 
Big Play Trey
Junior wide receiver Trey Radocha leads Drake with 207 receiving yards. Radocha hauled in four passes last week at Dayton including a 16-yard touchdown reception late in the second quarter. 
 
Defensive Difference Makers
Junior cornerback Tony Graham II has made an interception in back-to-back games.
 
Sophomore defensive lineman Finn Claypool has recorded a sack in back-to-back games as he owns a team-high three sacks.
 
Disciplined 
Drake ranks third in all of the FCS in fewest penalties per game (3.60) and 11th in fewest penalty yards per game (34.6). 
 
Stepping Up on Third Down 
Drake ranks sixth in the FCS in third down conversion pct. defense. Opposing offenses are 16-for-62 (.258) on third down this season facing the Bulldog defense.
 
Red Alert 
The Bulldogs are tied for 18th in the FCS in red zone offense, scoring on 14-of-16 (.875) appearances in the red zone this season. 
 
Scouting San Diego
San Diego did not play last week as Hurricane Ian prevented Stetson (located in DeLand, Fla.) to travel to California. The game was canceled and will not be made up. 
 
The Toreros are off to a 1-3 overall start after losing their PFL opener at Valpo on Sept. 24 when the Beacons scored 28 unanswered points. USD was picked to finish second in the PFL preseason poll with three first place votes. 
 
Redshirt senior running back Chris Childers anchors the Torero rushing attack with 266 yards on the ground and a touchdown. Sophomore wide receiver Vance Jefferson has reeled in 23 receptions for 336 yards and three touchdowns, which are team-bests in each category. 
 
Defensively, graduate student safety Hunter Nichols paces USD with 27 total tackles (18 solo) while graduate student defensive lineman Muhindo Kapapa had a team-best 3.5 sacks through four games. 
 
Dale Lindsey is in 10^th season at the helm of San Diego Torero football. Lindsey's overall record is 76-28 including a staggering 64-7 mark in PFL play. 
 
Series History vs. San Diego
San Diego leads the all-time series, 19-10, having won nine straight games against Drake. The Toreros edged the Bulldogs last season in San Diego on Oct. 16, 2021, by a final score of 13-10. Drake has a 6-8 home record against USD.
 
Up Next
The Bulldogs will head north to St. Paul, Minn., for a 1 p.m. kickoff at St. Thomas on Saturday (Oct. 15).